Offaly ...... 6-10
Meath ...... 3-8

Offaly conjured up a strong rally in the final third of this dramatic Electric Ireland Leinster MFC fixture to overcome Meath at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon.

Offaly seemed set for the provincial qualifiers when trailing the home side by 2-4 to 3-8 after 40 minutes.

They outscored Meath by 4-6 to 0-0 there after to advance to the provincial quarter finals and send the Royals into the qualifiers where they meet Longford on Wednesday week.

Full-forward Adam Shelly bagged a brace of goals in this phase of the game with the first of them giving Offaly the lead for the first time, 4-7 to 3-8, in the 49th minute.

Adam Geoghegan - who finished with 1-3 - added two points on the spin before Shelly's second goal copperfastened the outcome , in the 60th minute.

There was still time for Geoghegan to double his tally with his side's second goal, in stoppage time.

Meath led by double scores, 2-6 to 1-3, at half-time and increased their lead on the resumption when Joey Wallace pointed.

Offaly pulled a goal back through Adam Mangan in the 38th minute. Meath seemed to have hit the perfect response moments later when team captain James McEntee netted at the old swimming pool end.

McEntee then provided the assist for Wallace to point and Meath were seven points clear heading into the final third of the hour. Andy McEntee's charges weren't to score again as Offaly's resilience was rewarded and helped by some defensive errors.

Backed by the strong wind blowing into the O'Mahonys' end, Meath took the game to Offaly from the thrown-in but took some time to make an impression on the board.

Seven minutes in the atoned with a peach of a goal. When James McEntee's effort rebounded off the crossbar, Joey Wallace was on hand to slot to the net from close range.

Offaly pulled two points back through Patrick Dunican (one free) before Meath enjoyed their best spell.

Between the 13th and 24th minutes, Meath outscored Offaly by 1-6 to 0-1 in a sequence highlighted by some fine scores.

Offaly were only two points off the pace, 0-3 to 1-2, heading into the second quarter. Meath's second goal arrived in the 18th minute with Daire Rowe excellently finishing to the net when set up by Wallace.

Two long range efforts (including one 45) from Niall Lyons (one of four members of the St Patrick's Classical School side that lost the All-Ireland Colleges SF decider seven days earlier).

Ruairi O'Grady, who impressed in this phase of the game, provided the assist for wing-back Niall Kane to register. Another Wallace points left Meath 2-6 to 0-3 ahead after 24 minutes.

Offaly were thrown a lifeline in the 27th minute when Rory McNamee's cross was finished to the net by Dunican to leave six points in it at the break.

Offaly - Jason Dunne (Killurin); Ken Hogan (Tullamore), James Lawlor (Raheen), Michael Keogh (Raheen); James Hendy (Bracknagh), Oisin Cusack (Durrow), Alan Heffernan (Shamrocks); Patrick Dunican 1-2 (0-1 f) (Shamrock), Declan Byrne (Raheen); Dean McDonagh (Tullamore), Adam Mangan 1-0 (Kilclonfert), James Evans 1-1 (Gracefield); Alan Geoghegan 1-3 (Ballinamere), Adam Shelly 2-0 (Tullamore), Rory McNamee 0-3 (Rhode). Subs - Darragh Keenaghan for McDonagh (35), Christian Brazil for Keogh (60), Gareth Byrne 0-1 (Tullamore) for Shelly (60).

Meath - Jack O'Sullivan (Dunshaughlin); Thomas McGovern (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Charlie Bird (Boardsmill), Seamus Lavin (Dunboyne); Niall Kane 0-1(Simonstown), Gary Harper (Dunboyne), Ruairi O Coileain (O'Mahonys); Ruairi O'Grady (St Colmcille's), Keith McCabe (Ratoath); Shaun Byrne (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Niall Lyons 0-3 (1f, 1 45) (Seneschalstown), Daragh McGovern (Donaghmore-Ashbourne); Daire Rowe 1-1 (Syddan), James McEntee 1-0 (Curraha), Joey Wallace 1-3 (Ratoath). Subs - Dougie Dillon (O'Mahonys) for Lyons (43), Kevin Traynor (Syddan) for Kane (53), David Toner (Curraha) for Byrne (55), Anthony Neary (Na Fianna) for Harper (57), Jordan McLoughlin for T McGovern (60).

Referee - Stephen Johnson (Louth) Tweet

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